Photo de stock - Dec. 12, 1968 - Prototype Small Hovercraft Shows Its Paces On the Thames: A new small hovercraft with several unusal features was demonstrated to the Press on the Thames today. the craft, the CC7 prototype was built by Britten-Norman cushion craft under a ministry of Technology contract and is being used by the Ministry as a research vehicle. Potentially a nine-seater ( the prototype has only six), it fills a gap in the present range of British hovercraft between the smallest - the 4/5 seat Hovercat - and the 18-seat SRN 5. The roles envisaged for the craft when its size and payload were chosen included: river patrol vessel, customs launch, harbour and pilot cutter, crash tender for airports near water and as an amphibious minibus. Two novel features make this craft of particular interest to the Ministry - the method of propulsion and the CC7's inflatable side bodies. The ducted air method of propulsion gives a dramatic reduction in external noise compared with other craft, a high degree of manoeuvrability - both valuable assets in congested inland waterway operations - and speeds of up to 40 knots. half of the CC7's overall width is accounted for by two inflatable side bodies which can be removed when the craft is being moved by road, rail or air to another center of operations. Photo Shows: The prototype small hovercraft pictured during today's demonstration on the Thames. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)